What size pump do I need for my aquarium sump?

Calculate Your Recommended Flow Rate For reef aquariums, the general rule among hobbyists is to choose a pump that can provide a turnover/flow rate of 5x to 10x the tank volume per hour. For example, a return pump for a 50-gallon tank would equal a flow rate of 250-500 GPH.

Can a return pump be too big?

If you buy too big of a return pump, you potentially overflow your tank or sump. In that case, you are also spending more money on a bigger return pump than you need.

How tall should a sump be?

With a water level rating of 9.5-11″ I would shoot for a water level of 10″ in the skimmer chamber. You will want to have at least a few inches of unused sump above the water line to handle that extra overflow water. Here are some pics of my sump and skimmer, hope it helps give you and idea.

Can you have a sump without drilling the tank?

No. You can get an overflow box that draws a siphon up and over the edge of your tank. You will need a pump to push the return back up to your display tank.

What size return pump do I need for a 75 gallon tank?

In principle for a 75 gallon I would recomend a minimum of 800 gph effective at the tank with 1000 being about the usual. If you have an internal overflow that can handle 1000 gal/hr I would recomend the Mag Drive 24, otherwise go for the Mag Drive 18.

How many GPH does a 100 gallon tank need?

Water Flow Rate Your filter should be capable of cleaning at least four times the volume of your aquarium per hour. For example, a filter for a 100-gallon tank needs to have a water flow rate of at least 400 GPH (gallons per hour).

How many GPH does a 90 gallon tank need?

270 – 450 GPH for a 90G.

Do I need a sump for a 55-gallon tank?

A 10-gallon sump on a 55-gallon aquarium is unlikely to provide the space you need for equipment. It is also a good idea to have a sump large enough to accommodate some extra water in the event your return pump fails and water is back-siphoned from your display tank into the sump.

What size sump do I need for a 90 gallon tank?

The Triton 20 V2 Sump is great for aquariums up to 90 gallons and specially made to have a large refugium that meets the 10% volume recommendation for the Triton Method of reefing.